“As surely as God lives,” Joab replied, “if you had not spoken up, the troops would have continued pursuing their brothers until morning.”
Parallel translations
- WEB Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, surely then in the morning the people would have gone away, and not each followed his brother.”
- KJV And Joab said, As God liveth, unless thou hadst spoken, surely then in the morning the people had gone up every one from following his brother.
- NKJV And Joab said, “As God lives, unless you had spoken, surely then by morning all the people would have given up pursuing their brethren.”
- NASB Joab said, “As God lives, if you had not spoken, then the people of Judah certainly would have withdrawn in the morning, each from pursuing his brother.”
- NLT Then Joab said, “God only knows what would have happened if you hadn’t spoken, for we would have chased you all night if necessary.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Joab replies that had Abner not spoken, the pursuit would have continued till morning. He agrees to halt the chase.
Overview
Joab's answer is pointed, implying that Abner's side provoked the day's bloodshed and that only this appeal moves him to relent. Yet he agrees to stop, recognizing the futility of further slaughter. The exchange reveals the deep animosity between the two commanders even as they pause the fighting.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 9
- 2 Sam 2:14Then Abner said to Joab, “Let us have the young men get up and compete before us.” “Let them get up,” Joab replied.
- 1 Sam 25:26Now, my lord, as surely as the LORD lives and you yourself live, the LORD has held you back from coming to bloodshed and avenging yourself with your own hand. May your enemies and those who seek harm for my lord be like Nabal.
- Prov 17:14To start a quarrel is to release a flood; so abandon the dispute before it breaks out.
- Prov 25:8do not bring hastily to court. Otherwise, what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?
- Job 27:2“As surely as God lives, who has deprived me of justice—the Almighty, who has embittered my soul—
- Isa 47:7You said, ‘I will be queen forever.’ You did not take these things to heart or consider their outcome.
- Prov 20:18Set plans by consultation, and wage war under sound guidance.
- Luke 14:31–32Or what king on his way to war with another king will not first sit down and consider whether he can engage with ten thousand men the one coming against him with twenty thousand?
- Prov 15:1A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
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Christ at the center
God's covenant with David — a son whose throne and kingdom would last forever (7:12–16) — finds its yes in Jesus, the Son of David who reigns without end.
How 2 Samuel 2:27 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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